Nigeria: Enyimba Begins Hunt for Third Crown

David Ngobua

16 July 2011

Tomorrow, the commercial city of Aba, the home of two time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba International Football Club will come alive as the club popularly known as ‘the people’s elephants’ will begin its chase for a third Champions League title with a dicey tie against Al Hilal of Sudan at the Aba Township Stadium.

The last time the two clubs meet at this same stage of the competition was in 2008 and the Nigerian side was the better of the two with a resounding 4-1 victory in the return leg. Enyimba triumphed over the Sudanese giants but it was not on a platter of gold as they had to put their acts together to upturn a 3-2 deficit in the first leg in Sudan.

This match promises to be a cracker because both clubs are familiar foes. Why Enyimba had to endure the pains of missing out on the last two editions of the Champions League, the Sudanese side was among the last four in 2009 only to lose out at the group stage to Ismailia of Egypt in 2010.

If the above is anything to go by, it can be said Enyimba’s opponents will be a hard nut to crack but what is going for the Nigerian side is its recent resurgence which has seen among the top five of the Nigerian Premier League. Enyimba is the defending champions of the domestic league.

Al Hilal which has in its fold ex-Enyimba star and Nigerian international, Yusuf Mohammed is in Aba for a singular purpose-get the group stage on a winning note. However, ‘the people’s elephants’ are equally in search of a good start which will set the pace for its hunt for the elusive World Club competition.

Club Chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi spoke on the team’s readiness for the big match coming up tomorrow. “I can tell you confidently that we are battle ready. The team is working hard ahead of the match which will give us an idea of what will happen this year as far as our continental ambition is concerned.

He said though the ongoing Nigeria Premier League has denied his club the needed time to adequately prepare for the match, his players will do their best to win because they are all professionals.

Anyansi said the state government despite its other responsibilities has been most supportive.

“The state government has been alive to its responsibilities as far as team motivation is concerned and I can tell you that the players are not complaining.

“I cannot say we have prepared enough for this match but we have professional players who can get us the desired win. Despite the set back, we are not new to each other and it will be an interesting match,” he enthused.

When Enyimba won the CAF Champions league back to back in 2004, Coach Okey Emordi was the man in charge of the team’s technical crew. Interestingly, after a brief search for greener pastures outside Aba city, he is back to the fold and is optimistic his team will carry the day.

He said: “We are preparing really hard for this very important match. This is going to be our first match in the group and we cannot afford to start on a poor note. Our aim is to win to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians”.

Emordi, however, confessed that the technical crew of Enyimba cannot boast of knowing so much about Al Hilal but the video clips of the club’s recent matches have served as a good guide.

“Honestly, we do not know much about our opponents. The only thing I know is that they are not going to be push over as the club boasts of quality players including our former player Yusuf Mohammed. What we have done is to get some of their clips which we have been reviewing”.

The coach said if his strikers would take their chances on Sunday, nothing would stop Enyimba from beating their opponents.

“All we need do is to put our acts together. If we would take our chances, then I don’t see anything stopping us from beating Al Hilal,” he added.

Enyimba will be counting on the experience and skills of players like Markson Ojobo, Kenneth Anyanwu, Valentine Nwaebili, John Agbawu, Samuel Tswanya, Josiah Maduabuchi, Vicor Barnabas, Kalu Uche, Junior Osagie and old war horse David Tyavakse to wreck Al Hilal tomorrow.

One of the most experienced players in the team, Tyavkase told SHOT! that he and his team mates are in the right shape for tomorrow’s match.

According to the player who won the CAF Champions League back to back with Enyimba, Al Hilal will fight to avoid defeat but in the end, they would bow to the superior play of the people’s elephants.

He explained that Enyimba is brimming with confidence because the players are highly motivated to kick start their group matches on a promising note.

“We are not going to underrate our opponents but I do not see them denying us the opportunity to start the campaign on a winning note.

“We have in the team highly experienced players and going by the preparation we’ve had, I can see us beating Al Hilal convincingly. This is not to say it is going to be an easy match. Our opponents can spring a surprise, if we do not handle them with care,” he said.

The Benue born striker noted that tomorrow, the Aba Township Stadium will be filled to capacity and that will ginger the home boys to trample on their opponents with confidence.

“As you know we have wonderful fans. I am sure they would come out in numbers to cheer us to victory. The fans have always stood behind us and I don’t think they will do anything contrary to what we know”, he stated.

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